Best Defense Tech (2026)
Defense tech is the fastest-growing sector in venture capital. Explore startups building autonomous drones, satellite intelligence, cyber defense, and next-generation military systems.
60
Companies ranked
$143.7B
Combined funding
July 2026
Last updated
Updated hourly
Top 60 Defense Tech, ranked
Ranked by disclosed funding, growth signals and traction. Updated July 2026.
Airbus Zephyr85Defense TechPortsmouth, United Kingdom$202.4M- FOFounders Fund85Venture CapitalSan Francisco, USA$19.9B
Unastella85AerospaceSeoul, South Korea
Placer.ai85RetailLos Altos, United States$241.0M
Hermeus78AerospaceAtlanta, United States$350.0M
Anduril Industries77Defense TechCosta Mesa, United States$13.6B
Skyroot75AerospaceHyderabad, India$63.0M
Eaton Corporation75EnergyDublin, Ireland
Jabil75ManufacturingSt. Petersburg, USA- HAHANWHA75ConglomerateSeoul, South Korea
Stoke Space74SpaceTechKent, United States$1.3B
Radiant74Nuclear EnergyEl Segundo, United States$518.0M
Epirus74DefenseRedondo Beach, United States$540.0M
Drones (e.g., DJI, Skydio, Skyfront)73Drone TechnologyShenzhen, China$1.2B- FLFlock Safety73SecurityScottsdale, USA$63.0M
General Dynamics71AerospaceReston, United States$60.0B
URSA MAJOR71Defense TechBerthoud, United States$100.0M
Lunar Outpost71AerospaceGolden, USA$63.0M
Indus Action71Social ImpactNew Delhi, India$63.0M
Joby Aviation70AerospaceSanta Cruz, United States$590.0M
Vexlum70SemiconductorsTampere, Finland$17.9M
Axelspace70AerospaceTokyo, Japan$63.0M- UNUnited States Immigration and Customs Enforcement70GovernmentWashington, United States
- MAMACHINA LABS69ManufacturingLos Angeles, United States$156.0M
Silvus Technologies69DefenseLos Angeles, USA
Gecko Robotics69RoboticsPittsburgh, United States$125.0M
Quantum Systems68AerospaceGilching, Germany$1.9B
Helicopters/Planes68Aviation TechnologyLos Angeles, United States$605.0M
Axiom Space68SpaceTechHouston, United States$943.0M
Northrop Grumman68Defense TechFalls Church, United States- AMAmca68AerospaceEl Segundo, USA$376.5M
Exotrail67SpaceParis, France$63.0M
Apex Space66SpaceLos Angeles, United States$200.0M
Umbra66SpaceSanta Barbara, United States$168.0M- ISIsembard65ManufacturingBristol, United Kingdom$59.0M
Impulse Space65SpaceRedondo Beach, United States$500.0M
Dream65CybersecurityTel Aviv, Israel$460.3M
Frankenburg Technologies64DefenseTallinn, Estonia$36.7M
ArianeGroup64SpaceTechParis, France$95.0M
Blue Origin64AerospaceKent, USA$10.1B
SLINGSHOT AEROSPACE64AerospaceWindsor, United States$73.8M
Observable Space64AerospaceAdrian, United States$101.0M- FLFluor64EngineeringIrving, United States$25.0B
Dronamics63AerospaceSofia, Bulgaria$105.8M- NANaraSpace63AerospaceSeoul, South Korea$14.5M
Unifly63AerospaceLeuven, Belgium$34.6M- YOYORK SPACE SYSTEMS63AerospaceDenver, United States$629.0M
- VAVantage Robotics63AerospaceSan Leandro, United States$22.6M
PDW63AerospaceHuntsville, USA$170.0M
Swarm Aero63AerospaceOxnard, United States$35.0M
Elroy Air63AerospaceSan Francisco, United States$99.2M
Anello Photonics63Defense TechSanta Clara, United States$74.1M- OPOpen Cosmos63AerospaceDidcot, United Kingdom$57.0M
Integrate63GovernmentSeattle, United States$17.0M- D-D-Orbit Portugal63SpaceTechFino Mornasco, Italy$160.0M
- SISierra Space63AerospaceLouisville, USA$2.3B
Starfighters Space63AerospaceKennedy Space Center, USA$17.5M
Reveal63DefenseBozeman, United States$41.0M
Turion Space63SpaceIrvine, United States$20.0M
Mobix Labs63SemiconductorsIrvine, USA$63.0M
| Company | Sector | HQ | Funding | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus Zephyr | Defense Tech | Portsmouth, United Kingdom | $202.4M | 85 |
| FOFounders Fund | Venture Capital | San Francisco, USA | $19.9B | 85 |
| Unastella | Aerospace | Seoul, South Korea | — | 85 |
| Placer.ai | Retail | Los Altos, United States | $241.0M | 85 |
| Hermeus | Aerospace | Atlanta, United States | $350.0M | 78 |
| Anduril Industries | Defense Tech | Costa Mesa, United States | $13.6B | 77 |
| Skyroot | Aerospace | Hyderabad, India | $63.0M | 75 |
| Eaton Corporation | Energy | Dublin, Ireland | — | 75 |
| Jabil | Manufacturing | St. Petersburg, USA | — | 75 |
| HAHANWHA | Conglomerate | Seoul, South Korea | — | 75 |
| Stoke Space | SpaceTech | Kent, United States | $1.3B | 74 |
| Radiant | Nuclear Energy | El Segundo, United States | $518.0M | 74 |
| Epirus | Defense | Redondo Beach, United States | $540.0M | 74 |
| Drones (e.g., DJI, Skydio, Skyfront) | Drone Technology | Shenzhen, China | $1.2B | 73 |
| FLFlock Safety | Security | Scottsdale, USA | $63.0M | 73 |
| General Dynamics | Aerospace | Reston, United States | $60.0B | 71 |
| URSA MAJOR | Defense Tech | Berthoud, United States | $100.0M | 71 |
| Lunar Outpost | Aerospace | Golden, USA | $63.0M | 71 |
| Indus Action | Social Impact | New Delhi, India | $63.0M | 71 |
| Joby Aviation | Aerospace | Santa Cruz, United States | $590.0M | 70 |
| Vexlum | Semiconductors | Tampere, Finland | $17.9M | 70 |
| Axelspace | Aerospace | Tokyo, Japan | $63.0M | 70 |
| UNUnited States Immigration and Customs Enforcement | Government | Washington, United States | — | 70 |
| MAMACHINA LABS | Manufacturing | Los Angeles, United States | $156.0M | 69 |
| Silvus Technologies | Defense | Los Angeles, USA | — | 69 |
| Gecko Robotics | Robotics | Pittsburgh, United States | $125.0M | 69 |
| Quantum Systems | Aerospace | Gilching, Germany | $1.9B | 68 |
| Helicopters/Planes | Aviation Technology | Los Angeles, United States | $605.0M | 68 |
| Axiom Space | SpaceTech | Houston, United States | $943.0M | 68 |
| Northrop Grumman | Defense Tech | Falls Church, United States | — | 68 |
| AMAmca | Aerospace | El Segundo, USA | $376.5M | 68 |
| Exotrail | Space | Paris, France | $63.0M | 67 |
| Apex Space | Space | Los Angeles, United States | $200.0M | 66 |
| Umbra | Space | Santa Barbara, United States | $168.0M | 66 |
| ISIsembard | Manufacturing | Bristol, United Kingdom | $59.0M | 65 |
| Impulse Space | Space | Redondo Beach, United States | $500.0M | 65 |
| Dream | Cybersecurity | Tel Aviv, Israel | $460.3M | 65 |
| Frankenburg Technologies | Defense | Tallinn, Estonia | $36.7M | 64 |
| ArianeGroup | SpaceTech | Paris, France | $95.0M | 64 |
| Blue Origin | Aerospace | Kent, USA | $10.1B | 64 |
| SLINGSHOT AEROSPACE | Aerospace | Windsor, United States | $73.8M | 64 |
| Observable Space | Aerospace | Adrian, United States | $101.0M | 64 |
| FLFluor | Engineering | Irving, United States | $25.0B | 64 |
| Dronamics | Aerospace | Sofia, Bulgaria | $105.8M | 63 |
| NANaraSpace | Aerospace | Seoul, South Korea | $14.5M | 63 |
| Unifly | Aerospace | Leuven, Belgium | $34.6M | 63 |
| YOYORK SPACE SYSTEMS | Aerospace | Denver, United States | $629.0M | 63 |
| VAVantage Robotics | Aerospace | San Leandro, United States | $22.6M | 63 |
| PDW | Aerospace | Huntsville, USA | $170.0M | 63 |
| Swarm Aero | Aerospace | Oxnard, United States | $35.0M | 63 |
| Elroy Air | Aerospace | San Francisco, United States | $99.2M | 63 |
| Anello Photonics | Defense Tech | Santa Clara, United States | $74.1M | 63 |
| OPOpen Cosmos | Aerospace | Didcot, United Kingdom | $57.0M | 63 |
| Integrate | Government | Seattle, United States | $17.0M | 63 |
| D-D-Orbit Portugal | SpaceTech | Fino Mornasco, Italy | $160.0M | 63 |
| SISierra Space | Aerospace | Louisville, USA | $2.3B | 63 |
| Starfighters Space | Aerospace | Kennedy Space Center, USA | $17.5M | 63 |
| Reveal | Defense | Bozeman, United States | $41.0M | 63 |
| Turion Space | Space | Irvine, United States | $20.0M | 63 |
| Mobix Labs | Semiconductors | Irvine, USA | $63.0M | 63 |
About Defense Tech
Defense tech went from VC taboo to the hottest sector in a decade. Anduril ($14B valuation), Shield AI ($5B), and Palantir ($60B+ public) proved the thesis: governments are desperate to modernize, and traditional defense contractors move too slowly. Combined VC investment in defense tech exceeded $10B in 2024-2025, with Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, and Lux Capital leading.
The catalyst is geopolitical. The Ukraine conflict demonstrated that $500 drones can neutralize $5M tanks, and software-defined warfare rewards speed over legacy procurement. Startups building autonomous systems (Anduril's Lattice), satellite intelligence (Planet Labs, BlackSky), and AI-powered C2 (command and control) are winning contracts that Lockheed and Raytheon assumed were permanent.
The regulatory moat is real: ITAR compliance, security clearances, and FedRAMP authorization create barriers that keep casual entrants out. But the winners are those who solve the "dual-use" problem, building commercial products that also serve defense. Palantir proved this model; the next generation is applying it to drones, edge computing, cyber operations, and space systems. The TAM is measured in trillions, not billions.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Defense Tech in 2026?
Leading Defense Tech tracked by StartupHub.ai include Airbus Zephyr, Founders Fund, Unastella. We rank 60 companies in this category by disclosed funding, growth signals and market traction, refreshed hourly.
What does this Defense Tech ranking include?
This page ranks the top 60 Defense Tech by funding and traction, representing $143.7B in combined disclosed funding. Each entry links to full funding history, team and product details.
Which of these companies has raised the most funding?
General Dynamics leads the category with $60.0B in disclosed funding.
How is this Defense Tech ranking compiled?
Each company is scored on disclosed funding, team size, growth momentum and profile completeness, then ordered highest first. The list regenerates hourly as new funding rounds, hiring and product launches are detected, so the ranking stays current.